And as the conflux of racial and partisan gerrymandering claims in the state show, much of the bias in the North Carolina maps (as elsewhere in the South) came from diluting the influence of African Americans. #fairmaps 5/

Court has given NC legs until 1/24 to adopt remedial plan (must be filed with court by 1/29). But also asking parties to propose special masters to redraw map if court rejects any lege plan. But, of course, state likely to ask SCOTUS to stay. #fairmaps 7/

Reminder: What happened in North Carolina almost perfectly fits the hypo offered by Justice Kennedy at argument in the WI partisan gerrymandering case - which even Justice Alito seemed to think would be a problem. #fairmaps 8/

More partisan gerrymandering action ahead next week when the Pennsylvania Supreme Court hears a challenge to that state's congressional map (along with NC one of the most aggressive of the decade). brennancenter.org/legal-work/lea…#fairmaps 9/

A few more thoughts on the North Carolina partisan gerrymandering cases - or more specifically the facts. #fairmaps#ncpol 2/

Although some are skeptical about what the Supreme Court will do in the partisan gerrymandering cases it took today (and not without justification, especially given Justice Kennedy’s retirement), it’s important to remember how unusual the facts of NC are. #fairmaps#ncpol 3/

2018 was a busy and, in many ways, head spinning year on the redistricting front - with action in both state and federal court and at the ballot box. A look back. #fairmaps 1/

Things kicked off on January 5, when the special master in the racial gerrymandering challenge to North Carolina's legislative maps issued his recommendations on how the maps should be redrawn. brennancenter.org/sites/default/…#fairmaps 2/

Then, on Jan 9, while the court in the NC racial gerrymandering case was weighing recommendations for fixes to the legislative maps, a different federal court issued a ruling striking down NC's congressional map as a partisan gerrymander. brennancenter.org/sites/default/…#fairmaps 3/

#Breaking:An Israeli F-16 fighter has been shot down by #Syrian anti-aircraft fire on a raid to destroy Iranian facilities.
The Israeli military claims it shot down the drone and struck Iranian targets in #Syria after what it called a “severe violation of Israeli sovereignty.”